Social Icons

Review: NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna ($36) - At one point it was one of the most hyped bronzers products in the beauty community, but it seems like the hype has since died down. I'm sure everyone has reviewed this, but I'm still going to add my two cents. This was one of my first high end products and the second NARS item I purchased. It has a lot of "sentimental" value and takes me back to when I first seriously got into makeup.

Color-wise, I think Laguna is perfection. It's not too cool and not too warm (i.e. it doesn't come off dirty or orange-y). The texture is also amazing. Very, very easy to blend. It has medium-buildable pigmentation which I think is key when it comes to bronzers. Intense pigmentation is desirable in eyeshadows, not bronzers (at least in my opinion) because bronzing/contouring can look harsh and ridiculous quite fast. Laguna's downfall is its shimmer. I don't understand shimmer in bronzers. It's not ideal for contouring or for all-over bronzing because it makes wearing shimmery highlighters or blushes difficult (disco ball look, anyone?). Thankfully, the gold shimmer in Laguna is very small and subtle, almost undetectable on the face. Still, I'd prefer if it wasn't there at all.

Regardless of the top notch quality, I tend to reach for matte bronzers more often than this. And considering that in 2014 the market is full of great bronzers at much cheaper prices, I wouldn't whole-heartedly recommend this blush. Fun fact #2: Besides being one of my first NARS products, it was also one of the first products I hit pan on (this is obviously a new one which I got for my birthday seeing as my first Laguna was purchased back in 2009.)

you may also like

38 comments

I have a bronzer from Clarins coming up in my favourites on Friday which I love. I have Laguna in a small travel size and I'm not sure if that's what not assisting a love affair or I'm just fighting the hype - your post has prompted me to dig it out and give it another go!

I really loved this bronzer but hated how as soon as you hit pan the whole thing crumbles. Well mine did! The rest of mine ended up in the bottom of my makeup bag :( I definitely agree with you though, there are a lot of great more affordable bronzers available out there. Especially as bronzers the thing i tend to get through the quickest. xx

I adore the MAC Sculpting Powders, they come in a lot of colors. They are PRO products so you have to order them online. I also adore the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer. The Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer has the tiniest bit of shimmer but it disappears on application. x

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bronzer, and completely agree that it's super blend able and doesn't fall too orangey or brown. However, (I've gone through 2 of these), I find that it gets really hard to use at the end as you run out because large pieces break off and it's more difficult to get an even amount on the brush. I ended up having to toss the rest, which was sad considering it's a rather expensive bronzer.

I actually just purchased this one for the first time! Yes, I would prefer no shimmer which would make it much more versatile, but otherwise I don't mind the small amount that it does have. I've only used it once (today) so I can't say I have much of an opinion on it yet, here's hoping!

I just recently fell in love with this bronzer again. I agree that there is no need to have shimmer in a bronzer/contour product. However, I still have yet to find a really good bronzer that I would repurchase. I think from all the ones I own, I would repurchase Laguna.

You make it really sound like the gold of bronzers! That's amazing that you've used one up before! I really do love the color of it but I'm not a bronzer person at all so probably will not pick this up anytime soon! Thank you for sharing!

I was happy to see your post on Laguna. I think for me, it is a tad too light. I was going back and forth between that and Casino. I thought Casino would be too dark, so I went with Laguna. I usually mix it with a blush rather than contour because it doesn't really show up :(

I totally understand what you mean about the shimmer--I find it subtle enough that I actually like it. I don't use it overly for contouring, more for a general glow! I love it (I have it in a mini duo with orgasm) and I really want to purchase the full size!AmberLovely Notions

Ooh very tempted to try this one. I tend to like my bronzers matte also though, but I'm glad said that the shimmer in this is subtle. I've been using Too Faced Chocolate Soleil. I love that it's matte, but I can't get enough of the smell!